of the sockets of the teeth; but
though loosened they seldom drop out. Coupled with this, the glands at
the angle of the jaw are swollen, and the child dribbles constantly a
large quantity of horribly offensive saliva. In the children of the
well-to-do classes the condition is seldom seen except in a slight
degree; but even when severe it is rarely accompanied by any grave
disorder of the general health. It seems to tend, whether treated or
left to itself, slowly to get well; but its progress to a natural cure
is extremely tedious, and the gums are left by it for a long time
spongy, bleeding easily, and only very imperfectly covering the teeth.

Anxiety is sometimes excited by this condition; it being supposed that
the white deposit on the edge of the gum implies some relation between
it and diphtheria. This is not so, for though this peculiar ulceration
of the gums has now and then been found associated with diphtheria, the
nature of the two diseases is essentially different. It is, however,
always wise to call in medical advice in order to settle this important
question, and the more so, since there is one remedy, the chlorate of
potass, which, in appropriate doses, acts upon the condition almost as a
charm.

I say nothing about a dreadful form of inflammation of the mouth which
ends in mortification, because it is of infinite rarity except among the
destitute poor, and even among them it is very seldom seen except as a
consequence of measles, or of some kind of fever. It is only among the
very poor that I have seen it, and even among them it has come under my
notice only ten times in the whole course of my life.

There is a very common but inaccurate opinion that sore-mouth in
childhood is often produced by the employment of mercury. I never yet
saw a sore mouth due to the administration of mercury in any child
before the first set of teeth were entirely cut; and never but once out
of 70,000 cases which have come under my notice in hospital or
dispensary practice, have I seen in children of any age under twelve any
affection of the mouth from mercury sufficiently severe to cause me a
moment's anxiety.

=Quinsey=, or inflammatory sore-throat, has in it nothing specially
peculiar to the child, but occurs at all ages with the same symptoms. It
is, however, comparatively rare under twelve years of age, and is almost
always less severe in childhood than at or after puberty, while I
scarcely remember to have met with i